Oh, Thanksgiving

What would Thanksgiving be without a little chaos and a grease fire? A small fire that was quickly put out. No thanks to me though. I couldn't find my baking soda until after every one left. Typical. Thank God I didn't have to call the fire department -- I would have been mortified!

Pot -- post fire.

Ski Lesson #2

Today was my second cross-country ski lesson. It was -11 degrees. I thought I was making a lot of progress until my instructor asked me:

"Can your skis actually glide?"
<heavy sigh>

What I aspire to -- *not* what I look like.

Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen

This is life on the road: red vines, diet coke, Parmesan cheese and watching Modern Family on the iPad. Can you say your night has been this exciting?

You Know You're not in Kansas...

... when you hear an elementary student say when leaving school: 
"But bears will get you if you go the shortcut -- I never go the shortcut."

Breathe

This was the oxygen mask on the plane today.  I think it was meant for the pilot but I could have used it. The pilot was a bit of a cowboy and practically had us upside down. I don't know how I managed not to wet myself.

Sister Mary Full of Grace, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Today I had my first cross-country ski lesson. It's a 5 week class focusing on classic skiing (versus skate skiing). It didn't go well. I can't glide; I can't balance; and Holy Moses I most certainly cannot go downhill.

Waxing our skis in the warming hut.

Getting The Vote Out in Adak

Even in Adak there was a polling booth. No lines here!

Aurora Borealis

Interior Alaska was treated to quite an aurora show last night. On my flight home from Anchorage I saw the the lights from the plane. They were were dancing unlike I'd seen them before.

Here's a picture someone shared on Facbook of his plane ride leaving Fairbanks early this morning. This is very similar to what I saw last night.